we like to do things radically. we like to go to the root of things. what if he went to the families and kids, and with great respect for all the institutions that exist, -- you see, i saw this thing in holland. little glass canisters, and they would talk to all of the young people at this festival. they said, pick one sound that is really important to you. and that is a radical notion. who is the best expert on what

sound matters most to a child? they are. nobody else. what i would like to do, doing cross-disciplinary -- going to our friend with all of the digital devices. they could record that sound and then say what it was. then we could put it into a votive container, and then put a light in there. then you could create a shrine filled with the voices of children, talking about what is valuable to them. and why not use that device to publicize the fact that these kids are out there, by letting them do it? let them walk into an environment where they can

create -- a brilliant artist. we are pretty good out in the desert. we know how to sacrifice space. we are pretty good. and then get all of the people -- people of means, take them to that. then the whole neighborhood comes in. maybe bring in glass blowers and show them how to make things, work with the people. i have not talked to anybody, so i do not want to get ahead of myself. but you see the strategy i am talking about that goes right to the root of community. that engages everyone as a participant.

and i do not just mean, here you go, susie. cut this, and we will slap it on. you participated. in the new year, we are going to be ready with things you want to do. we want them to be expressive, interactive, collaborative. i do not know if everyone is an artist, but they can express themselves. >> i look forward to that. some credi>> what is burning a's relationship right now with empire, nixon, burlap? how has that evolved over time, do you have twitter set up with

them? >> we have been out there for 20 years. we know the folks out there. we have a ranch there where we used to stage our event. we brought it -- we bought property in the community. derleth, nevada is a tiny place. the empire you mentioned, that is a neighboring town which does not exist anymore. it was a classic company town. usgs cut their losses in sheet rock and closed down. it is gone. the houses are there but the people are gone.

it is the real wild west, the way it was. it takes a lot of the romance out of it. so we have done several things. black rock solor, which came out of burning man in gerlach. the school is closing down because they do not have any kids. the economy has been based on mining. there are some tourists that come through. hunters. some of our people come through and leave money in their wake. a little town like that does not know how to make money.

but they have learned in certain ways. we have made significant charitable contributions. i do not want to great -- take much credit for this, but we are helping to keep them alive. the thing about our event, we do not do commercial things at the event. it spreads out the economic development to our neighbors. the piutes down the road are now doing in the in taco stands now and we know them. there was the day when we were considered scary, coming from san francisco, you know. it is much easier to break into a big city.

but we are well accepted and respected because we talk straight with everyone and we have benefited everyone. >> one more question and then one final question for you. >> something my friends have talked about is this kind of bipolar attitude of what it takes to look like a burner. it is expensive, what it takes to go out there. you said that we find high levels of satisfaction in consumption. what do you think of this industry is growing around what it takes to fit in out there? >> everyone lives in their own

world. this is pretty much how i look out there. the hat, shirt. >> this is what i wear. >> this is not expensive apparel. i would not wear these shoes. they are too nice. there will always be that attitude. i can see by your office that we are -- outift that you are a burner. if people go out there and too expensive things, that is great. if they pay money for these things, fine. we are not against commerce.

in essence, when they do that, we see that as a gift to others. they are giving that to other people. they are dressing up the landscape. they are certainly not staying in their tent. but there is that notion. there have been fashion spreads in some magazines about that burner look. and but you will not see me in fluffy leggings. [laughter] that is fine for anyone that prefers them. i do not know. there are just a lot of people that do pay a lot of attention. i am one of them. i suppose, if you wanted to have that special, that look, you could spend a lot of money on it. >> i was going to ask you this,

final question, but he may have answered it. what is your 60-second the idea to change the world? it sounds like it is get to the right gear. >> yeah. if you can just get the right gear, you can -- change the world? >> not change it in 60 seconds. >> i don't know. >> say how to change it. >> i don't know. >> for the better. >> just connect. just connect. >> all right. you have 54 seconds left. >> fluffy leggings. >> all right. let's have a big round of applause for larry.

[applause] and this meeting of the commonwealth club is officially adjourned. [applause]